LEF is a private family foundation that funds in New England and California. Through the LEF Moving Image Fund, the New England office supports the creation of new work by documentary filmmakers living in the region, engaging an open application process. LEF California funds projects proactively.

Moving Image Fund

Featured Work

Jodie Mack's LEF-funded film THE GRAND BIZARRE had its world premiere at the 2018 Locarno Film Festival, before screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Learn more about the film in a recent filmmaker interview with Cinema Scope.

Moving Image Fund

News & Announcements

The LEF Moving Image Fund deadline has passed for production and post-production letters of inquiry. The next opportunity to submit a letter of inquiry to LEF for either of these stages will be in January 2020.

The next LEF Moving Image Fund pre-production grant deadline will be on Friday, June 7at 11:59pm (midnight), open to New England-based filmmakers seeking early funding for feature non-fiction film projects. In order to be considered, applicants must submit an application form, including up to 10 minutes of pre-production sample footage from the current project. The submission form will open in April 2019. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the LEF New England Moving Image Fund guidelines and frequently asked questions, and to reach out to LEF New England staff by phone or e-mail to determine whether your project is eligible and a good fit for LEF's funding priorities. Start here

Because the LEF Moving Image Fund has adapted its application from the Documentary Core Application, you might already have a head start on your LEF letter of inquiry if you've submitted a grant proposal to another funder that uses the Core. Learn more on the Core Application website

LEF Foundation and the Film Study Center (FSC) at Harvard University are pleased to announce a new fellowship opportunity for Boston-based nonfiction filmmakers called the FSC-LEF Fellowship. One filmmaker over the academic year of September 2019-May 2020 will receive a $10,000 grant (jointly funded by the two entities), access to the FSC's pool of production and post-production equipment, and the opportunity to participate in the Harvard FSC community through work-in-progress screenings, workshops, and other activities. Fellows will be jointly chosen by LEF and the FSC. Applicants to the LEF Moving Image Fund who have submitted a Letter of Inquiry and have been invited to submit a Production or Post-Production Application will be considered for the FSC-LEF Fellowship if they meet the following criteria: (1) they reside within 50 miles of Cambridge, (2) they are not currently affiliated with Harvard, and (3) they will benefit from and contribute to the FSC community. If you have any questions about this fellowship program, please e-mail LEF Program Director Sara Archambault

The Spring 2019 season of new and artful documentary programming at The DocYard has been announced! The series presents takes place on Monday nights at the Brattle Theatre from February 11 through May 13, 2019! Learn more about this season's programming at The DocYard's website

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